Lauren Fritz

Name: Lauren Fritz

Department: Ocean Sciences, Ph.D. Student, 2nd year

What Award/ Scholarship did you receive? Keeley Coastal Scholarship Award

What year do you expect to graduate? 2026

Where do you call home? I live in Santa Cruz, but my heart is on San Juan Island, Washington.

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? The rich history of marine mammal science here made it a no-brainer for me to come to UCSC once I received my NSF GRFP and acceptance letter. My advisor and his colleagues have been doing some fascinating polar research on whales, and I was excited to become a part of it.

What is your field of focus? I am studying the behavioral ecology of humpback whales along the Western Antarctic Peninsula, and am specifically interested in how tourism is affecting whale resting and foraging.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? I would love to be a freelance data animator, drone pilot for whale research, and journalist who is able to provide a link between the scientific community and the general public.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? I just finished my first season in the Antarctic, and it’s hard to pick one moment from three months spent down in one of the most remarkable corners of the world. If I did have to pick: there was one particular field day where we were out on our zodiac, watching a pod of Type B killer whales hunting crabeater seals. These are the killer whales that generate waves to wash their prey into the water off of the ice floes; it was one of the most fascinating things I’ve every witnessed. We spent over two hours watching them from the drone, playing, feasting, and socializing.

What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz? Student life is a whirlwind, no matter where you’re at in your academic journey. You’re in a haven of natural beauty, so remember to take time to slow down, swim in the ocean, walk through the redwoods, and breathe.

How will this scholarship impact your academic life /research? This scholarship is allowing me to start a new chapter in my research, which is studying humpback whales in Colombia. I am sure that this time will be instrumental in preparing me for my future in the world of whale research and conservation.